(Motorsport-Total.com) – Callum Ilott will not compete in the Detroit IndyCar Series Grand Prix this weekend and will be replaced by Santino Ferrucci in the #79 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet. The reason for this is a hand injury that Ilott sustained in an accident during the Indianapolis 500 last Sunday.
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Callum Ilott has to skip the race in Detroit
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“Of course I’m devastated that I can’t compete in Detroit this weekend,” says Ilott. “After speaking to the doctors and specialists here in Indy, the damage to my hand was a little worse than when I first saw it. They said the top priority was long-term healing and any short-term damage that could be caused by racing , would pose a longer-term problem.”
The rookie lost control of his car at Turn 2 on Lap 69 and crashed violently into the SAFER barrier after spinning. Ilott was able to leave the wreck under his own power, but returned to the paddock after the obligatory examination in the medical center with a bandaged wrist.
Due to the injury, the race doctors refused to allow him to take part in the last Detriot Grand Prix on Belle Isle. A decision that Ilott grudgingly accepted. “I agreed with the medical team’s decision that I would not be admitted and that I needed more time to heal. Although I would have liked to race, I should rest and focus on my health.”
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Substitute Ferrucci will be used this weekend for the third different team in the 2022 IndyCar season. In Texas, he filled in for Jack Harvey in the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda after the Brit was disqualified from the race following an accident in practice.
He then drove the second Dreyer & Reinbold Chevrolet at the Indianapolis 500, finishing tenth, and now he’s returning to Detroit with Junco’s Hollinger – the track where he made his IndyCar debut for Dale Coyne four years ago.
“While I’m happy to be back in the car, it’s unfortunate for Callum under the circumstances,” says Ferrucci. “I hope his hand heals quickly and he’s back on track soon.
“I’m just here to help the team and see if we can get a really good result and to add my experience from Detroit. I’m looking forward to having some fun and taking the momentum from Indy. I can do that I can’t thank the Juncos Hollinger guys enough for putting their trust in me this weekend and I hope it goes really smoothly.”